§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) on what dates since 1992 his Ministers have visited the military corrective training centre at Colchester;
(2) when he last visited the military corrective training centre based in Colchester.
§ Mr. SoamesMy right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has not visited the centre, but the then Minister of State for the Armed Forces, my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Sir A. Hamilton) visited it on 7 December 1992, and the Under-Secretary of State for Defence visited it on 22 June this year.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans there are for privatising the military corrective training centre at Colchester;
(2) what plans he has to further reduce staffing levels at the military corrective training centre based at Colchester;
(3) what changes in manpower and costs have accompanied the evaluation currently taking place at the Colchester military corrective training centre;
(4) what consideration he is giving to the further privatisation of any services connected with the military corrective training centre in Colchester;
(5) what reports he has commissioned into the possible privatisation of the military corrective training centre based at Colchester or any of its services therein;
(6) what discussions his Department has held aimed at the possibility of handing over to another body responsibility for the military corrective training centre based at Colchester.
§ Mr. SoamesA feasibility study has been conducted into market testing of the functions of the centre, the results of which are currently being considered by my Department. Appropriate consultation with trades unions and others will be undertaken before any final decisions are taken.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received against the privatisation of the catering services at the military corrective training centre at Colchester.
§ Mr. SoamesMy noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to the closure of the Colchester military corrective training centre.
§ Mr. SoamesThere are no plans to close the centre.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the military equipment used for training for prisoners serving sentences at the military corrective training centre at Colchester.
§ Mr. SoamesThe military equipment used for the training of detainees in "A" wing are as follows:
- Various weapons
- Radios
- Webbing and clothing
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the levels of staffing by definition and grade of the military corrective training centre in Colchester since 1992.
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§ Mr. SoamesThe levels of staffing at the military corrective training centre since 1992 are:
Number Rank/Grade Definition Military 1 Lieutenant Colonel Commanding Officer 5 Majors Section Managers 3 Captains 1 Flight Lieutenant 3 Warrant Officers Supervisors Class 1 8 Warrant Officers Security NCO Class 1 1 Warrant Officer APTC Class 2 1 Warrant Officer Catering Class 2 5 Warrant Officer Security NCO (Female) 19 Staff Sergeants Security NCO 66 Staff Sergeants Security NCO 1 Sergeant Medical 1 Sergeant Armoury 1 Sergeant Pay 1 Sergeant Pioneer 9 Se rgeants (RAF) Security NCO 2 Petty Officers (Male) Security NCO 1 Sergeant (RM) Security NCO 1 Sergeant Catering 4 Sergeant (Female) Security NCO 6 Sergeants (WRAF) Security NCO 4 Corporals Catering 6 Corporals PTI 1 Corporal Storeman Armoury 2 Corporals General Duties 1 Corporal Driver 3 Lance Corporals Medical 2 Lance Corporals Stores 7 Lance Corporals Catering Civilian 1 Retired Officer 2 Burnham Lecturers 1 Civil Servant Executive Officer 4 Instructional Officers 5 Administrative Officers (Civil Servants) 2 Administrative Assistants (Civil Servants) 2 Typists 2 Storekeepers The catering services were contractorised on 1 September 1994. All military catering staff, except for the W02 (Catering), left MCTC during the period June to September 1994.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will state what armaments and live ammunition, by category, are stored at the military corrective training centre in Colchester;
(2) whether the military corrective training centre based at Colchester has a fully operational and stocked armoury on site;
(3) whether prisoners at the military corrective training centre at Colchester have any contact during their incarceration with issued weapons and live ammunition.
§ Mr. SoamesThe centre has a fully operational and stocked armoury. The weapons are for the use of detainees who will be returning to their units at the end of their902W period of detention. Detainees who are to be dismissed or discharged after serving their period of detention are not given weapon training.
The following weapons are held at the centre, including personal weapons of members of staff:
- 121 × 5.56 mm rifles
- 35 × 9 mm pistols
- 8 × 22" conversion kit
- 15 × 7.62 mm rifles
- 24 × 5.56 mm SUSAT rifles
- 24 × 5.56 mm Iron rifles
- 4 × 5.6 mm light support weapon (machine gun)
The quantity of ammunition held for these weapons is small and varies on a daily basis depending on training programme.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the ranks held by all prisoners prior to their convictions and subsequent detention at the military corrective training centre in Colchester since 1987.
§ Mr. SoamesThis information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Service personnel under sentence arrive at the military corrective training centre in the rank of private, or equivalent.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the director of Prison Services has paid a visit to the military corrective training centre at Colchester.
§ Mr. SoamesThe director of Prison Services, Mr. Derek Lewis, visited the military corrective training centre, Colchester, on 24 March 1994.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he is giving to closing the present discharge wing at the Colchester military corrective training centre.
§ Mr. SoamesThere are no plans at present to close the discharge wing at the centre.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will give the numbers and ages of prisoners in military goals dismissed from the services for drug taking since 1992;
(2) if he will give the numbers, ages and convictions of prisoners currently jailed at the military corrective training centre in Colchester since 1992;
(3) when the decision was made to privatise the catering services establishment at the military corrective training centre in Colchester and what was the date of its commencement.
§ Mr. SoamesMy noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon. Member on those subjects.
§ Mr. MealeTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the responsibilities of the Colchester military corrective training centre with regard to the rehabilitation of offenders into civilian life.
§ Mr. SoamesPersonnel who are to be dismissed from the service or discharged after serving their period of detention undergo four weeks resettlement training in various trades. The training is designed to prepare them for civilian life by improving their trade skills and developing their self reliance and self respect.